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Buffalo Sabres: 3 reasons Casey Mittelstadt can breakout

BySion Fawkes|
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 22: Casey Mittelstadt #37 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates a goal by Curtis Lazar #27 at 17:15 of the first period against Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on February 22, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 22: Casey Mittelstadt #37 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates a goal by Curtis Lazar #27 at 17:15 of the first period against Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on February 22, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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Buffalo Sabres
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 15: Casey Mittelstadt #37 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Capital One Arena on April 15, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

The Don Granato Effect

Let’s face it: Casey Mittelstadt is on the verge of riding the bust label. Despite this, he deserves benefit of the doubt. One reason is because head coach Don Granato has experience and success turning around careers.

We saw this happen last season with Tage Thompson, Kyle Okposo, and Jeff Skinner. Thompson was virtually on his way out and held a bigger bust label than Mittelstadt when the unthinkable occurred. Now, Thompson can evolve into one of the league’s top scorers.

Okposo and Skinner looked as though their careers were done for. They ended up scoring a combined 108 points. The duo also solidified themselves as prominent members of the Buffalo Sabres roster for at least the next three seasons.

Mittelstadt may be Granato’s next success story. And if (when) he is, the Sabres faithful will be glad the organization held onto the former first round pick. On most teams, such a turnaround may be farfetched. But Don Granato has proven he can help players pull off the near-impossible.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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